Applicator for hair and scalp tonics or the like



F. H. MERRILL APPLICATOR 'FOR HAIR AND SCALP TONICS OR THE LIKE Filed July 2e, 1937 1 Patented Dec. 13, 1938 orties APPLICATR FR HAIR ANDl SCALE TONICS 0R THE LEKE Frank H. Merrill,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 26, 1937, Serial No. 155,703

5 Claims.

This invention has to do generally with means for applying tonics or other solutions to scalps or the roots of hair; and is more particularly concerned with applicators of the comb type.

In order effectively to apply tonics to the hair roots or scalp by the usual linger tip method, it is essential that the strands of hair be carefully parted to an extent which will expose the scalp at points where application is to be made. This is not only a tedious and unpleasant task, but it is almost impossible to cover the entire scalp with full effectiveness, particularly since the major portion of the tonic is wiped from the fingers by contact with the hair before the scalp is reached.

While the more unpleasant features of the above procedure may be avoided by dipping an ordinary comb into tonic and 'then applying the moist tooth-tips to the scalp by a combing operation, again most of the solution is wiped from the comb long before` the scalp is reached and substantially all that remains on the tooth-tips is deposited immediately the scalp is touched, leaving practically none for distribution over the scalp as the comb is subsequently drawn through the hair.

It has been proposed to overcome the above di'iculties by the use of so-called fountain combs, where the bores of hollow teeth are connected to reservoirs provided in or attached to the body portion of the comb. These arrangements, however, have the common disadvantage of being relatively complicated, unwieldy, and necessarily of such construction that it is diflicult to keep the feed-bores clear of scalp accumulations and of tonic which may dry or harden during periods of non-use. Furthermore, the factors entering into the final tonic-delivery from such devices are such that the feed is usually irregular and there is consequently no uniform spread of the correct amount of tonic over the treated portions of the scalp.

Therefore it is among the objects of my invention to provide an applicator which enables one to enjoy all the above mentioned procedures without their accompanying disadvantages. I have provided a device of extremely simple construction and yet one which will deliver tonic, without waste, at the points where that tonic Will have full effectiveness. When the comb teeth are drawn over the scalp, the delivery of treating solution is even and free and yet there is no danger of over-delivery or under-delivery at any one point. Further, the applicator is such j that, with minimum effort, it may be kept Clean,l

hygienic and in the best of operating conditions.

Generally, I accomplish the above by the provision of capillary bores or passageways extending longitudinally of the comb teeth from orifices in the tooth tips, the upper ends of said bores being vented to the atmosphere. It is necessary only to dip the tooth tips into a shallow tray of treating solution, whereupon a substantial amount of fluid is drawn by capillary attraction into the bores, where it remains until the comb teeth are passed through the hair and into contact with the scalp. Then, by drawing the comb through the hair with the tooth tips held against the scalp, the solution is drawn from the bores by reason of the wiping contact, and is deposited over the scalp adjacent the roots of the hair.

Of course, to cover the entire scalp it may be necessary to dip the comb several times, but the filling is accomplished almost instantaneously so this operation can practically be disregarded as a time consumer. Further, I have provided novel means whereby, in spite of the fact that the tooth-cavities are of such size that they are filled by capillary attraction, they are given characteristics which give them relatively large capacity.

'Ihough this is not at all limitative, I i'lnd excellent results are obtained by i'lrst traversing the scalp with strokes in one direction and then with cross-wise strokes, thus leaving a deposit of what may be considered a net-work of close, crossed lines of fluid which, by reason of the subsequent natural spread of the fluid, will insure that the entire surface of the scalp will receive treatment. And, this is accomplished without waste of fluid, for every bit that is delivered is applied directly to the scalp-none of it is wiped away by the hairand it is not necessary, as with other devices which depend upon flooding, to deliver an over-abundance of fluid in order to insure that every portion of the scalp is reached.

Of course, bores of capillary size are prone to become clogged, and in order to avoid the effects of this condition, I preferably make the applicator in halves, the dividing plane being one with the common axial plane of the tooth-bores. Thus, by spreading the halves apart, the halfbores are fully exposed and may be easily wiped or flushed'clear of any accumulation.

Other objects and features of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an applicator embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing a variational embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an applicator having a variational form of registering means between the two halves of the device;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections showing variational embodiments of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of both Fig. 'I and Fig. 8.

In order better to show up the characteristics of the capillary feed bores, the drawing is of an enlarged scale. For instance, the actual applicators here represented by the drawing are about three inches long and about one and one-half inches wide with the individual parts of proportionate size-though, of course, these dimensions are not at all to be considered as limitative on the invention.

Since, in its broader aspects, the invention is not limited to such particularities as the illustrated separable-section feature, I will rst describe the applicator'without reference to those particularities.

The device is in the general nature of a hair comb stamped, molded or machined from any suitable material such as metal, rubber or composition, and consists of body I and depending teeth II. Extending longitudinally of teeth II are capillary bores I2, which open at tips I3 to rovide delivery orices I4. The upper ends I5 of bores I2 extend through body I0 and open to the atmosphere at the upper edge I6 of said body, thus providing vent holes I1 which allow iluid to be drawn by capillary attraction through orices i4 into bores I2 whenV tips I3 are dipped into a solution.

Preferably, though notk necessarily, bores I 2 adjacent tips I3. are of relatively restricted diameter, as shown at I8, the resulting diameter of the orifices being such as will control the delivery of fluid in a manner to insure the deposit of a proper amount thereof when the comb tips are later drawn over the scalp; while the relatively largediameter portions of the bores (though of capillary size) give sufficient capacity to obviate necessity of too frequent llings or replenishment.

While the dimensions here given are in no way to be considered as controlling on the invention, I have foundthat in'an applicator of the size represented (which, as has been said, is considerably smaller than the drawing indicates) satisfactory results are obtained with restricted bore portions i3 of about diameter and upper portions of about 3&4 diameter.

Bores of such smaller diameter are obviously prone to become clogged with'scalp accumulations or with treating material which may become dried or hardened between periods of use. In the absence of other provisions, it would probably become necessary to clear said bores by running tiny cleaners through the relatively long individual openings, an operation which, at best, would be tedious, unsatisfactory and never fully effective.

To overcome this, I prefer to part the applicator, both body and toothed portions, in a plane 2|] which is one with the common axial plane of bores I2, or, in other words, tomake the applicator up of two symmetrical half-sections 2| and 22.

Then, when the sections are spread apart, the half-bores carried by each are fully exposed and can be readily and thoroughly cleaned by ordinary washing and brushing operations.

Any suitable releasable means may be employed to hold the sections in the illustrated assembled condition, wherein their corresponding half-bores are in register and wherein all other corresponding parts of the two sections areproperly aligned. For instance, I have shown a pair of studs 23 and 24 fixed, one each, in sections 2| and 22 and having friction fit in through sockets 25 and 26, respectively, provided in the opposite sections.

To facilitate the spreading of sections 2| and 22, I may provide finger-nail recesses 27 at the ends of the body portions of said sections, as clearly illustrated.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a variational embodiment wherein all parts similar to those of Figs. 1 to 3 are given the same reference numeral plus the letter a. Here, however, vents 30' for the upper ends of capillary bores |2a open through transverse passageways 3| to the exposed side face 32 of the body portion ofy part 22a; instead of to the upper edge of the bodyv portions as described in connection with the showing of' Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates a variational' embodiment wherein all parts, except the releasable holding means, are identical with corresponding parts of Fig. l and are therefore indicated by corresponding reference numerals plus the letter b. In this case the releasable holding means comprises a pair of integral side lugs or tongues 33 and 34 extending, one each, from the inner faces of sections 2lb and 22h and having snug t in complementary notches 35, and 3B in the upper edges ci the opposite sections.

With the applicator constructed in accordance with the above, it will be seen that all the advantages spo-ken of in the forepart of this specification may be had. The applicator is iilled by merely dipping the teeth into a shallow tray of uid and that iiuid remains in the capillary bores until the teeth have been passed through the hairv into contact with the scalp. Then, as the applicator is drawn over the scalp with a combing motion, the fluid is evenly drawn from thefcapillary boresr and deposited directlyon the scalp in proper quantity.

Fig. '7 shows a variational embodiment wherein parts similar to corresponding parts of Fig. 1 are given the same reference numeral plus the letter "c. In this case, while bore portion |8c is of capillary size, portion |2c may be of greater' than capillary diameter, the capacity of the entire bore thus being greater than in the case of' Fig. l.

lled by capillary attraction projections are extended radially into the bore, these projections preferably being in the nature of ribs 35 extending longitudinally of and radially into the bore, the ribs thus breaking the bore up into a plurality of what may be termed capillary passageways 36. The ribs are here shown as being diametrically opposite but stopping short of one another, there being one rib on each section 2| c and 22o; When the sections are parted, the defining walls of these passageways are exposed for cleaning.

By such a provision the capacity of the comb may be doubled, for instance, over that of the Fig. l type, and yet the advantages of quickfilling by capillary attraction and the nal delivery of iluid through an oric'e of capillary size are still had.

However, in order that bore |20 may be Fig. 8 shows another variational embodiment wherein the general features and advantages are the same as in Fig. 7. In this figure, parts similar to corresponding parts of Figs. 1 and 7 are given the same reference numeral plus the letter (Z.

In this case, instead of the stepped bore of Figs. 1 and 7, bore I2d tapers upwardly and outwardly from orifice Idd, the upper portion of the bore being of greater than capillary size to give increased capacity. Ribs 35d, however, serve to divide the bore up into a plurality of capillary passages, as in the case of Fig. '7, thus allowing the bore to be loaded by capillary attraction. The ribs preferably stop short of orice 14d, thus leaving bore-portion 18d uninterrupted.

I have found that satisfactory results may be obtained by proportionng the boresand ribs as follows (referring to the form represented by Fig. 8) though this data is given merely by way of example and is in no way to be considered as limitative. Where the length of bore lZd from orifice Md to edge 16d is 1.5 the orifice may be .046 diameter, the bore tapering up to .062 at Vent l ld. Ribs 35d may start .125 from orifice ldd, the sides of each including an angle of and the peaks of the opposed ribs being spaced apart about .02" at a point about .9" from orice Md.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An applicator of the character described, embodying a body member and teeth depending from said body member, said teeth having capillary bores extending longitudinally thereof, each of said bores opening at one end to the tipl of the associated tooth, and said bores being vented to the atmosphere at their other ends, the portions of the bores adjacent the tips being of relatively restricted diameter.

2. An applicator of the character described, embodying a body member and teeth depending from said body member, said teeth having capillary bores extending longitudinally therethrough and substantially coextensive therewith, each of said bores opening at one end to the tip of the associated tooth, and said bores being vented to the atmosphere at their other ends; the portions of the bores adjacent the tips being of relatively restricted diameter.

3. An applicator of the character described, embodying a body member and teeth depending from said body member, each of said teeth having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and opening to the tip of the associated tooth, said bore being of relatively restricted diameter where it opens to the tip and having a portion of larger diameter thereabove, and projections extending radially into said portion.

1. An applicator of the character described, embodying a body member and teeth depending from said body member, each of said teeth having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and opening to the tip of the associated tooth, said bore being of relatively restricted diameter where it opens to the tip and having a'portion of larger diameter thereabove, and ribs extending longitudinally of and radially into said bore portion.

5. An applicator of the character described, embodying a body member and teeth depending from said body member, each of said teeth having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and opening to the tip of the associated tooth, said bore being of relatively restricted diameter where it opens to the tip and having a portion of larger diameter thereabove, and diametrically opposite ribs extending longitudinally of and radially into said bore portion.

FRANK H. MERRILL. 

